Hotel Residence Magnolia

We were there for 10 days, and the room had a lovely balcony. The staff were so friendly that they made us feel like family, even though we only know a few words of Italian. There’s a supermarket nearby, and the metro makes it easy to get everywhere else. It’s hard to imagine a better location. We’ll definitely stay here again, and we highly recommend it.

The rooms are simple and clean, with everything you need, and the price makes this feel like a five-star stay. We’ve been coming to this sweet hotel for almost 25 years. It’s run by a lovely family, and you can feel its history. The neighborhood is fantastic, with quiet streets and great places for coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and meals. We found some of our favorite spots in the whole city here. The Metro is close, though you’ll still get plenty of steps in. See Rome from Residence Magnolia without breaking the bank.

We liked the quiet location, with a mall, supermarket, and pharmacy nearby, though the metro was a 15-minute walk and the hotel is away from the city center. Our room had a balcony with a beautiful view, plus a kettle, fridge, stove, and the utensils needed to cook. The shower and toilet were new, and toiletries were provided. The room itself was cold and in poor shape. It didn’t look like the Agoda photos, the furniture was old and worn, and the floor was too dirty to walk on barefoot. The linens were stained, and the blanket was dusty and dirty. Heating was unreliable, and even with the air conditioner on, we slept in our clothes under a thin sheet. There were no slippers, so we had to keep our outdoor shoes on inside. The window faced an area where staff members presumably smoked, and the curtains didn’t cover it fully, which left us feeling exposed, as if someone might be watching. The nights were the worst. Between 1 and 3 a.m. we heard loud, repeated banging, like metal pots and pans. Whenever we went out to check, it stopped, and nobody was there. It was eerie, sometimes so close it seemed to be coming from inside the room. There was also a steady dripping sound, probably from the air conditioner. I don’t know what caused it, but the experience felt creepy, almost like a ghost story. It’s hard to imagine a staff member banging pots so persistently in the middle of the night. The convenient location, balcony, and basic amenities were positives, but the dirt, cold, noise, and lack of privacy left a strong negative impression. It might appeal to fans of ghost stories, but probably not to anyone looking for comfort and relaxation.

The Metro is just a five-minute walk away, and Line A gets you to the Spanish Steps in 15 minutes and the Vatican in 10. You can also walk to the Vatican in about 20 minutes. A big shopping mall is five minutes away, with a great restaurant and lots of shops close by. The area has excellent amenities, and the hotel is reasonably priced. I come back to Rome often and always stay at Magnolia Hotel. The rooms and apartments are spacious, lovely, clean, and tidy, with large terraces. The staff are very kind, and the place has a family feel. I simply feel at home at Magnolia.